The military regime is suffering losses despite conducting ground and air offensives with a large number of troops to retake territories in Karenni (Kayah) State, according to Karenni forces.
Mar Wi, second secretary and deputy commander-in-chief of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), said that the Light Infantry Division 66 – known as the most brutal of the junta army – has even been distrupted in its structure after engaing in battles in Karenni State three years since the military coup.
“Their structure is quite disrupted as it entered 2023. In our Karenni State, some of the battalions of LID 66 are so disrupted that they had to return to the rear line or be reorganized. Even their battalion commanders were killed. We have received some information about those who deserted.”
The Myanmar Army has been conducting offensives on five fronts in Loikaw, Demoso, Bawlakhe and Hpasawng townships in Karenni State and Pinlaung and Pekon townships in southern Shan State since early March this year, according to Karennin forces officials.
Fighting between regime forces, the KNDF and the Karenni Army (KA) has been fierce, while the regime side carries out aggressive offensives from Loikaw and Bawlakhe townships in eastern Demoso Township.
The military council forces lost territories as Karenni resistance forces fiercely repelled their LID 66 in 2021 and 2022, added KNDF deputy commander-in-chief Mar Wi.
“In 2021 and 2022, we clashed with LID 66 marching from Bago, Inma and Pyi. I would like to point out that LID 66 is known as the most brutal and violent of the junta forces. We, the Karenni resistance forces, had to fight against them. But there were many occasions when we could fight against them well”
KNDF Chairman Khun Be Du said that after more than two years since the military coup, the Karenni Resistance Forces have taken control of more than 60 percent of Karenni State, while the regime still controls only 20 percent of the towns and surrounding areas.
“We have brought about 60 percent of the state under our control. This is mostly in the rural areas. We have controlled areas that are five or six miles away from the towns,” he said.
Several junta soldiers were killed in the fighting in Konetharyar village, which is only six miles from Loikaw.
Currently, even the commander of the junta battalion is in custody.
After all this fighting, we have taken up to 60 percent of the state. They control only the town centers. They control about 20 percent because the regime has most of its base camps in the towns.
The rest of about 20 percent is the battlefield, which nobody can control right now Faced with heavy casualties, the regime has not only stepped up arson attacks on houses in Pinlaung, Pekon, Loikaw, Demoso, and Bawlakhe Townships, where it is conducting offensives, but has also carried out indiscriminate attacks with heavy weapons, fighter jets, and military helicopters, according to locals.
If the regime can be driven out further, Karenni resistance forces may also reclaim the 20 percent of territory currently controlled by the junta, help the displaced more, and enforce equality and federal rights in Karenni State.
Sent by NMG.